Chapter 32

Lao Langzhong smiled, "A young couple having a little tiff—what else could there be?"

Zhang Shen was utterly puzzled, "Things were fine before, and we even went to the county town together—could something have happened there?"

Lao Langzhong collected distilled water while comforting Zhang Shen, "Two little kids—fine today, upset tomorrow, that's nothing unusual."

"If there's a problem, they'll work it out themselves; us adults meddling too much only makes things worse."

Zhang Shen thought Lao Langzhong made sense, and having no other option, she could only keep watching.

In the afternoon, Mu Nan Zhao was away from home again.

Gu Xixi was tending to her experimental samples in the courtyard, not yet finished, when Village Chief Lao Qian arrived.

"My niece, something big has happened!"

Gu Xixi was pruning a pot of wolfberries, still focused, her scissors not stopping.

"Don't rush, Uncle Qian—could it be because of those families growing water spinach?"

Lao Qian blinked, "How do you know that?"

Gu Xixi finished the last cut, turned, and said, "They've made money selling water spinach."

"If there's profit to be had right now, my earlier words might not count."

Lao Qian said, "Water spinach can adjust ash-enriched soil, but it guzzles water and fertilizer—planting too much is unwise. First, our village's water supply isn't abundant, so it's not suited for water-intensive crops."

"Second, over time the soil's fertility will be depleted, and planting grain afterward will surely reduce yields."

Lao Qian lamented, "I've kept all those instructions you gave me back then."

"But they've tossed all that aside now."

"Qin Dasao yesterday urged the other families not to expand their planting, but some wouldn't listen to reason and even argued with her, saying she lacked the guts to make money and was trying to stop them."

"Listen to that—what nonsense!"

Gu Xixi remained noncommittal and asked, "You came to see me—surely it's not just to scold them a bit?"

Lao Qian gave an embarrassed smile, "After all, I was the one in charge of this back then."

"Other villages have heard about it, and several village chiefs have come to me for advice!"

"The results look good so far, but if a good thing turns bad, my reputation as Village Chief of Huachi Du Cun would also..."

Gu Xixi found it a bit funny, "Uncle Qian speaks quite frankly."

"But now, what do you want me to do?"

Lao Qian said, "You can come with me, or I'll take the lead and talk to them."

"You just need to tell them again what the consequences are; nothing else needs to be handled."

"That way they'll have a grudge, and in the end they'll only take it out on me."

Gu Xixi agreed.

Lao Qian gathered several households, and Qin Dasao and her husband were among them.

Gu Xixi repeated what she had said before.

Someone objected, "We're about to enter autumn—we can only plant for another month or so; I don't believe it could have much impact."

Gu Xixi said, "As for how big, the truth is there isn't much of an impact."

Lao Qian was surprised—this wasn't what we had agreed on beforehand.

Gu Xixi gave a faint smile, scanning the crowd.

"Originally the soil was mixed with wood ash, and after intercropping several vegetables, the balance was adjusted, making the soil's fertility stronger than before."

"Once the winter wheat is sown, if next year brings no natural disasters and normal rainfall, yields will increase by at least ten percent compared to this year."

Several farming households gaped, "Ten percent? And at least that!"

Gu Xixi took in every change in their expressions.

She said casually, "Anyway, it's just a one percent increase; it's not a big deal."

Food is the foundation of farmers.

Increasing wheat yield by ten percent versus selling a few more baskets of water spinach now— they can still tell which is more important.

Qin Dasao deliberately raised her voice, "Now selling water spinach isn't it just because we listened to the Village Chief and Xixi back then?"

"So this time, our family will still listen to Xixi."

The other families exchanged glances with each other.

Last night they had quietly agreed to ignore Qin Dasao's household and work together.

By then, even the Village Chief won't be able to say much more.

Now the situation has changed.

But the problem is, whoever speaks up first to make this decision isn't that slapping themselves and everyone else in the face?

Gu Xixi whispered to Lao Qian, "The rest is up to you."

Lao Qian immediately straightened up, cleared his throat, and said, "What are you all hemming and hawing for?"

"He's already given you all Xixi's kind words—listen up, do you understand?!"

Finally someone spoke up, "Indeed, farming isn't something to rush."

"In a few days, the pumpkins in my field should be ripe."

Someone started, and others followed, "Yeah, although our pumpkins and radishes need to overwinter, if we think about it, we've been busy lately anyway—there's really no need to plant anything else."

In fact, Gu Xixi's stated ten percent increase is still conservative.

The benefits of the revitalized and improved land, plus the long-lasting fertility from fermented wood ash, will gradually show up in the future.

With the matter settled, Gu Xixi walked around her own field again.

Each hired worker took responsibility for their own plot, and of course they put in their best effort.

After the millet and yam in the field entered their normal growth trajectory, each stage's growth matched expectations.

Right now, there's actually nothing for Gu Xixi to do.

But she simply didn't want to go home so early today.

I don't know what Mu Nan Zhao has been busy with lately—has he gone back already?

As agreed, we are to see Meng Dangni zi tomorrow.

Will he tell her to go together?

If he doesn't say it, what if his plan gets stalled because of that—will something happen?

If he says it, should she just agree as if nothing happened?

Gu Xixi felt vexed, yet she still slowly made her way home.

If she lingers too long in the fields, the hired hands might see her and think the landlord is unhappy with her.

Yet even when the moon climbed into the treetops, Mu Nan Zhao hadn't come back.

After washing up, Gu Xixi lay down, eyes closed, not knowing how long had passed, when suddenly she heard a soft tap on the window lattice.

She suddenly sat up.

As if she felt something, she didn't even ask a question before running over and pushing open the window.

Tonight the moonlight is beautiful, silver light filling the courtyard.

Mu Nan Zhao stood in the water-like moonlight, extending his right hand toward Gu Xixi. 'Take this.'

Gu Xixi saw he held a folded handkerchief, neat and square, obviously containing something.

'What is this?'

Mu Nan Zhao said, 'Open it and you'll know.'

Gu Xixi glanced at him, took the handkerchief packet onto her palm, and carefully unfolded it.

Before her eyes lay a soft, watery sheen—large and small pearls.

She looked up in surprise. 'Pearls?'

Mu Nan Zhao said, 'Hold onto them; Meng Dangni zi has a good impression of you, so it's more fitting for you to give them to her.'

Also, you may freely pick one to offset that day's expenses.

Having said that, he turned and walked away.

'Wait!' Gu Xi called out to Mu Nan Zhao, 'You don't really intend to go into business, do you?'

'Why bring these again?'

Mu Nan Zhao stood with his back to her, 'Thanks to your reminder, we're putting on the full act.'

'How can a pearl merchant win trust without producing some pearls?'